While labor and delivery may not always go according to plan, taking the time to think about how you want to experience the birth of your child is a great way to start a conversation between you and your medical team. The most effective birth plans aren’t strict must-have or must-do lists; instead, they’re guidelines for you, your partner, and the hospital staff.

When you’re writing your birth plan, be sure to consider how you want to address pain relief, what you want to experience before, during, and after delivery, how you’d like to recover, and whether or not you’d like visitors at any time.

Whether or not you write a birth plan, be sure to have a conversation with your partner or birth coach and your healthcare professionals.

For your convenience, we’ve put together some helpful checklists to make creating your birth plans even easier:

Note: These checklists are a starting point and are not meant as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team to determine what is best for you and your baby.

Additional Resources:

• American Pregnancy Association: Creating Your Birth Plan
• Baby Center: Your Expectations and Preferences
• The Bump: Writing a Birth Plan